During the great time of persecution which is soon to come upon Christians we are given the scene of the future victory of the saints for our encouragement which is gained through the time of trouble and we see that most certain destiny of all who trust in God that live during our time on earth, when regardless of the plans of the wicked their future is certain: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev_12:11″. So, Praise God we are given the outcome of victory of overcoming Satan. In fact John says he sees the people that got the victory over Satan in the coming persecution, ” And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Rev_15:2″.
If you haven’t seen the video on the Homepage Trip into the supernatural please watch it for it shows the certain way to victory in Christ.
Now do you know how we can know for sure that the Saints will get the victory over Satan and his angels? It is because of the victories, the total victories gained in the past by Christ and His people. Look at this one:
“The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. Psa 46:6”. Have you heard the victory in this verse? Here it is for the disciples tell you about it, this is the second time of great persecution described here at the end of time, but we know that God has gone before us. And every trial we have gone through He has already experienced. Let’s look at the breakdown of the verse.
- At the end of time “the heathen raged” (those who side against God and His people) are angry with the children of God and they unite with the rulers of the world. “The kingdoms were moved” (kings, kingdoms, presidents, nations, countries) “were moved” (to execute laws) [And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Rev. 13:16-17″.
- Then God the Father through Michael will stand up in defense of His children throughout all the world who are suffering immense persecution. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. Dan 12:1”.
- “He uttered His voice” This is the judgement voice of God in favor of His people and He will save them through the great time of trouble.
- How great a time of trouble is it? At His second coming when Christ returns to deliver his saints from the death decree the earth actually melts and all the elements of evil are destroyed. This is proven in the context of Psalms 46 but lets just switch gears for a moment and look at the time the heathen raged before this in Psalms chapter two and in the book of Acts.
- “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. Psalms 2:1-3”. Here’s the fulfillment of it: (now don’t miss it because prophecy repeats itself and the things that were will be again, there will be persecution which comes from the church and is executed by the state again in the future) as Paul says, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Cor. 10:11 “. That is the things that have happened in the past and are recorded in the bible are there to let us understand the future, because one of the greatest proof checks of reality is that “History Repeats Itself” and the persecutions of the future are going to come in the same way and manner that they came in the past. Our founding fathers new it which is why we are protected in the constitution by the 1st and 14th amendment and which is why they are trying to change the constitution and the 14th amendment right now. We have been protected from congress or the state passing laws prohibiting freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of worship, but that is all to change very soon.
- So here is the first raging spoken of in Act 4:6 “And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them (Christ’s called out church comprised of the disciples were arrayed against the state approved church and the legal religion of the day) in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? You see the question, who gave you the authority to do the things you are doing for we are the authority.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?” Act 4:25
“The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod (King/Kingdom/President), and Pontius Pilate (Governor/The State), with the Gentiles (The Heathen), and the people of Israel (the Church, Caiaphas The High Priest), were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts ch. 4:26-31
What did we just read? The Kingdoms of this world raged, and in vanity sought to remove God from their midst but He rose again and lives in and through His people by the power of His Spirit who gives the boldness to stand before men like these church leaders who wish the disciples were dead yet the march of victory for God’s people moves forward, forward to victory. By the way when God gives you the gift of trusting him, and fearing God, you can not fear man. I told a man who engaged me in conversation, and I never said it before or thought of it that “the heart of man is not big enough to fear God and man at the same time”. Does fearing God mean that you know His word is authority and what He says will be done? He spoke the world into existence and He loves that which He has created; He loves His saints and vast beyond measure is the depth of God’s love for ever sinner.. I love this verse from Paul,”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1Tim1:15″ It is worthy to believe, accept it, trust it, Christ came to this world to save you; He came to save all sinners for the bible says, “whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely. Rev. 22:17”.
Look at it in Psalms 33:
6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. (those plans of death will be over ruled).
11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Christ was with Daniel in the lion’s den and delivered him, He delivered the Hebrew’s from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, He delivered the widow Zarephath in the land of Sidon from famine) and He will deliver all who learn to trust and place their confidence in Him. Daniel looking down to the “time of trouble such as never was… Dan. 12:1” states that God’s people shall be delivered, “everyone that shall be found written in the book.” And the revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted (learn to trust!) in His Holy Name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee (learn to hope in Christ alone-no system-no person no earthly power).
Zec_3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Jud_1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Let us break their bands asunder. The chords that bind the human family with the Heavenly family above with Christ as our elder brother and King who sits at the right hand of the throne of God have not been comprehended by mankind. The restraints that hold in check the wickedness of this earth have not been appreciated. But when God withdraws His Holy Spirit in the latter days we will all see what the cost of casting away the bands of Omnipotence really is. In that day and at that time all the barriers that Christ has establish to protect man will be withdrawn and the wicked will be under the total control of Satan without a conscious worked by God. Then mankind will be plunged into the “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation Dan. 12:1”. It is at that time that the saints of God will have special protection. “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psa_27:5”.
It is during this time that the promises of God reveal the splendor and the glory that shall be among the Saints when the persecutions of the past shall be rekindled and Christ along with the Holy Angels unite with the Church on earth to lead them through the battle.
Psa 46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 46:2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psa 46:3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
Psa 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psa 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Psa 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
Psa 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psa 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God’s holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, `Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.’”
Disguised as an angel of light, he [Satan] will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds performed. Christ will be personified, but on one point there will be a marked distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law of God.
He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week; and as lord of the first day of the week he will present this spurious sabbath as a test of loyalty to him.
It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God’s people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God’s tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand on the living word: “It is written.” This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14.
Satan is preparing his deceptions that in his last campaign against the people of God, they may not understand that it is he. “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” … Satan will go to the extent of his power to harass, tempt, and mislead God’s people.
He who dared to face, and tempt, and taunt our Lord, and who had power to take Him in his arms and carry Him to a pinnacle of the temple, and up into an exceeding high mountain, will exercise his power to a wonderful degree upon the present generation, who are far inferior in wisdom to their Lord, and who are almost wholly ignorant of his subtlety and strength.
In a marvelous manner will he affect the bodies of those who are naturally inclined to do his bidding.
He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ.
We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do?—Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice.
The time is coming when Satan will work miracles right in your sight, claiming that he is Christ; and if your feet are not firmly established upon the truth of God, then you will be led away from your foundation.
Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end. Coming as an angel of light, claiming to be the Christ, he will deceive the world. But his triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be able to stand in this time of almost universal apostasy.
There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24.
The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ.
So far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the Scripture: “He … deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do,” not merely those which he pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures is brought to view in this scripture. But there is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days he will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light.
He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ.
Just before us is “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10. All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome. Satan works “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness” to gain control of the children of men, and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee” (verse 10), is the Saviour’s promise. He would sooner send every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.